The best kids attractions in New Jersey are recommendations for a family looking for a kids activity whether it be for fun, education, a day trip, a birthday party, or a school or day camp outing.
This listing of the best kids attractions in NJ describes the many amusement parks, zoos, children's museums, and geological wonders that will amuse children of every generation.
New Jersey has many exciting family activities that thrive all year long.
So if you're ever at a loss of what to do, pack up the car, buckle in the kids, and head to the Garden State to catch a children's show, explore a hands-on exhibit, browse through a museum, or for more excitement, head to an amusement park or a water park. In the winter there are day trip or weekend trip resorts with lodging for snow tubing and skiing.
The Best Kids Attractions in New Jersey
Best Kids Attractions - Northern New Jersey
Lakota Wolf Preserve
89 Mt. Pleasant Road
Columbia, NJ 07832
1-877-733-9653
Hear the howling of wolves echo through the mountains of the Delaware Water Gap in Knowlton Township, Warren County, NJ. Photo opportunities of a lifetime and the experience of watching and listening to packs of Tundra, Timber, and Arctic wolves will be yours. View wolves here in the East in a natural surrounding for the first time in over a century. Bobcats and foxes also reside at the reserve.
Liberty Science Center
Liberty State Park
222 Jersey City Boulevard
Jersey City
201-200-1000
Children are natural scientists, curious about everything around them. By encouraging their interests and exposing them to new ideas, parents or caregivers can help them develop intellectually. Liberty Science Center offers many memorable experiences for children, found in every exhibition area. Have fun exploring together!
Mountain Creek Resort
200 Route 94, Vernon
(973) 827-2000
A rear round resort offering skiing, snow tubing, water tubing, mountain biking and more. Either for day trips or multi-day with lodging available.
Medieval Times Castle Dinner & Tournament
149 Polito Ave, Lyndhurst
(201)933-2220
The most famous them e restaurant on the east coast. Great family jousting fun. Eat with your hands and drink from a Goblet as you watch some serious Jousting on Horseback. The imaginative new entertainment spot was based on the true medieval tradition of royal families inviting guests to a festival and feast to watch Knights compete on horseback.
Turtleback Zoo 560 Northfield Avenue,
West Orange
(973) 731-5800
Recently celebrating its 30th birthday, the Turtleback Zoo, houses 500 animals of 200 different species. Focusing on New Jersey wildlife, the collection includes cougars, bison, eagles, and wolves, all of which were originally found in the state. Other animals include elk, llamas, white-tailed deer, otters, owls, sea lions, and others, as well as domestic animals that kids can feed. Attractions like a pony ride and train ride add to the fun and excitement of visiting the animals. A number of special events take place here throughout the year, with activities and exhibits for everyone.
Funplex 182 Route 10 West,
East Hanover
(973) 428-1166 25 acre outdoor and indoor family entertainment center, open year round. Attractions include, Foam Frenzy, Go-Karting, Mini Golf, Lazer Tag, Free Fall, Bumper Boats, Ferris Wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, Motion Simulator, Batting Cages, Driving Range and an Arcade. They also have a cafe and host kids parties, and group outings
Duke Farms
80 Route 206 South
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 722-3700 A model of environmental stewardship and showcases its natural, horticultural, and historic resources to inspire visitors to become informed stewards of the land. Offers Weekend Children's interactive tours of the gardens designed to appeal to their love of fun and nature.
Kid Junction
3322 Route 22 West
Building 12, Branchburg Commons
Bramchburg, NJ
908-252-0055
A parent supervised, play place and learning center that also offers an array of classes, educational workshops and programs for children and adults.
A great place for a child's birthday party, play date, educational field trip or walk in for fun!
Sterling Hill Mining Museum 30 Plant Street
Ogdensburg, NJ
973-209-7212
Take a 1,300-ft underground walking tour through the mine and see passages with the equipment used while the mine was in operation, plus exhibits on the mining process. Visitors will see the lamp room, the shaft station, mine galleries dating to the 1830's. Also see the Rock Discovery Center, the Fossil Discovery Center, fluorescent minerals, fossils, gemstones, carvings, and everyday objects, and more.
They also offer offer educational group tours for school classes, scout groups, summer camps, vacation tour groups, etc. Not recommended for kids under 6.
Velocity 17
87 Route 17 North
Maywood, NJ 07607
201-994-1200 Ext. 210
You whiz around the 2,000 foot racetrack, attaining speeds up to 30 mph. With your bottom only 2 inches off the ground, it feels like you are doing 80 mph as you negotiate hairpin turns, banked corners and chicanes. At the end of the race you feel exhilarated, but exhausted. The nearly 2 mile gauntlet is over. You want to get right back behind the wheel and go at it again. Welcome to Velocity 17. An electronic leader board allows your fans to track your position and lap times, while a computer printout provided to you at the end of the race let’s you brag over your results with fellow racers.
Great for kids birthday parties. V-17 can offer an exciting and educational experience that will stay with them long after the party is over.
Best Kids Attractions - Central New Jersey
Popcorn Park Zoo
Humane Way at Lacey Road, Forked River
(609) 693-1900 Popcorn Park Zoo is truly one of a kind. It was established in 1977 as a refuge for wildlife, exotic and farm animals that were abused, ill, injured, handicapped, elderly or exploited. Each animal faced a questionable future at best. Located on 7 acres in New Jersey's beautiful Pinelands, Popcorn Park offers an environment of safety, wonderful care, and peace to its residents, a diverse array of animals unfortunate enough to need a rescue, but lucky enough to wind up here.
Fun Time America Highway 35 South,
Cliffwood
(732) 583-4600
An indoor amusement
park with over 40,000 square feet of
incredible entertainment including
Rides, Games, a 14-Seat Motion
Simulator, Laser Tag, Soft Play
Science Fun, Arts and Crafts and
Outstanding Food !
Jersey Shore Pirates
Riverfront Marina
Princeton Avenue (next to Windward Beach Park)
Brick NJ
(732) 899-6100
Your mini mates will have the opportunity to dress-up like pirates, get face painted with pirate “tattoos”, and learn some pirate lingo before setting sail for an an hour and fifteen minute pirate adventure. They will learn the rules of the Sea Gypsy pirate ship, read a treasure map, discover a secret message in a bottle, and work as a team to defeat the enemy pirate who has stolen the keys to their treasure. Prepare to man the water cannons to win back the keys from nemesis Pirate Pete!
They offer kids birthday partys for with favors, skulldana's, eye patches, loot bags and swords will for up to 42 friends and family,
Funnel 3320-24 Route 38 Mount Laurel
(856)-273-9666 25 acre outdoor and indoor family entertainment center, open year round. Attractions include, Foam Frenzy, Go-kart, Mini Golf, Laser Tag, Free Fall, Bumper Boats, Ferris Wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, Motion Simulator, Batting Cages, Driving Range and an Arcade. They also have a cafe and host kids parties, and group outings
The Michelle and Jennifer Tobias Adventure to Health
The Student Health
Awareness Center
901 West Main St.
Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 308-1850
The Michelle and Jennifer Tobias Adventure to Health is an educational and enjoyable experience for kids. Best experienced by kids in grades K-8, the center provides interactive and exciting programs designed to take children on an innovative adventure through the human body and leave the kids with some important lessons about health.
Best Kids Attractions - Southern New Jersey
Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
62 Battleship Place
Camden, NJ
866-877-6262
A great attraction for kids 6+. Spend a night on the legendary Battleship New Jersey's overnight encampment program. They can accommodate groups and families of all sizes up to 300. Stow your gear in a locker --the same lockers that held sailor's personal belongings when at sea. Sleep in bunk--just like enlisted sailors."Chow down" in the Crew's Mess Hall and you can even purchase a personalized "Dog Tag"!
The NJ Adventure Aquarium 1 Aquarium Drive, Camden
856-365-3300
See Liberty the penguin. Marvel at the Sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, seals, birds and more. A wonderful day trip with the kids.
Cape May County Zoo
4 Moore Rd , Cape May Courthouse
(609) 465-5271
Over 430 different individual animals which covers around 250 different species. They have Lions and Tigers, but no Elephants. It’s FREE (they ask for a donation when you enter)
Check out these other Kids Sites
Best Kids Events - Many of the events featured here include the circus, ice shows, carnivals, educational experiences, plays, concerts, and other simply fun events by popular entertainers.
Best Kid Friendly Farms with fun and educational activities for kids. Including pick your own produce, farm animals, events, school trips, birthday parties, and summer camp farms for kids.
Top Kids Birthday Party Places - Our picks for the top New Jersey kids birthday party places and venues that includes a variety of programs for children of all ages and all interests with a variety of packages that can be customized to your needs.
Unusual Attractions - This site is intended to provide information on the little known or offbeat places that are of interest to people with special interests, or for school teachers that are looking for a field trip to suppleent their children's education curriculum.
Kids Museums - Children's Museums in New Jersey run the gamut from hands-on interactive science programs, educational exhibits, learning through fun activities, and many other adventuresome activities that make the learning experience enjoyable for kids.
Kids Amusement & Theme Parks New Jersey is a mecca for kids Amusement Parks and Theme parks through the State. The Jersey Shore with it's boardwalk's and amusement piers provides an an ideal setting overlooking the ocean with its many food stand's that sell great hot dog's, Italian sandwiches, saltwater taffy, and ice cream. In addition to the amusement parks, NJ has many exciting theme parks include, water parks, wild west & pirate themes.
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Campgaw Mountain, Mahwah, NJ
Campgaw Mountain is a great winter attraction for kids. I have taken my kids there and they love it. The prices are reasonable and they have activities ...
Kid Junction Branchburg New Jersey
Kid Junction is the cleanest child facility in the state of NJ. It has a little something for everyone including crawlers, toddlers and preschool through ...
Wee Can Shop
Not rated yet
I took my kids to Wee Can Shop, where children shop for the ones they love! This great shop opened in my town about 4 years ago and I take them throughout ...
Sprayground/ Playground
Not rated yet
In Colts Neck NJ on 537 you will fall in love with this amazing playground and the best sprayground for kids to get wet and play. The sprayground is free ...
Turtle Back Zoo
Not rated yet
ZOO CAMP DEBUTS THIS SUMMER AT ESSEX COUNTY TURTLE BACK ZOO www.TurtleBackZoo.com
(West Orange, NJ – May 19, 2009) – For the first time this summer,...
GlassRoots Learn about Glass Blowing in Newark
Not rated yet
10 Bleeker St Newark, NJ 07102-1903 973-353-5961 GlassRoots is pleased to provide even more opportunities for you to learn glassblowing and kilnformed ...
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter. Receive notice of upcoming events, seasonal places to visit, and restaurant information.